Disabled cricket: Pakistan progress to final of five-nation tournament

Defeat arch-rivals India by 43 runs to top the table with six points

KARACHI: Pakistan Disabled Cricket Team (PDCT) progressed to the final of the Five-nation ICRC International T20 Cricket Tournament by defeating arch-rivals India by 43 runs at the BKSP Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Monday.

A four-wicket haul, including a hat-trick, by Fayyaz Ahmed ensured that PDCT lead the table with six points and book a place in the final, which will be played on September 10. The other finalist would be decided on Tuesday when the remaining four teams play their last group matches.

Currently, England Disability Cricket Team are second with four points.

Asked to bat first, PDCT posted a tournament-high total of 175 runs in their allotted 20 overs as skipper Hasnain Alam smashed six boundaries and a six in his 25-ball 39-run knock, while Rehan Ghani (34) and Danish Ahmed (29) also made significant contributions.

Danesh Kumar and Dasharth were able to take two wickets apiece, giving away 17 and 39 runs respectively.

In reply, India bundled out for just 131 runs as man-of-the-match Fayyaz ran amok to claim four Indian scalps, giving away only 14 runs, while Rao Javed and Nihar Alam took two wickets apiece, giving away 24 and 19 runs respectively.

Yash Negi (26) and Ansul (24) were the top scorers for India.

“I am really glad that I was able to perform for my team,” an ecstatic Fayyaz told The Express Tribune. “Claiming your first-ever hat-trick is an honour on its own but to be able to achieve that against India makes it even more memorable.”

Alam, meanwhile, hoped that the passion and determination showed by the team against India would also be replicated in the final.

“All the players were highly passionate, especially as this win came against India,” Alam told The Express Tribune. “Now we are planning for the final and regardless of the team that qualifies, we will try to win the tournament.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th,  2015.

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